History

Before First Curse

In a poor village in the frontlands, an area of the Enchanted Forest, Hordor is one of the knights ordered by the Duke to pick children aged fourteen to become soldiers and take part in the Ogre War. A fourteen-year-old girl, Morraine, is taken away. Though her parents plead on her behalf, Hordor cruelly wields a special dagger to command a being known as the Dark One to force them into submission. One of the villagers, Rumplestiltskin, fears his own son, Baelfire, will be chosen soon since he is nearing fourteen. In a failed escape during the night, Hordor and his knights discover Rumplestiltskin and ridicule him as a coward. He threatens to take Baelfire away from Rumplestiltskin, causing the latter to plead with Hordor to spare his son. Hordor agrees, but only if Rumplestiltskin kisses his boot. The man meekly complies, but Hordor deals further humiliation by kicking him the stomach. The next morning, Hordor comes to pick up Baelfire when a cloaked figure approaches. At first, he assumes it is the Dark One. He guesses correctly, except the Dark One is now Rumplestiltskin. Hordor begs for forgiveness and offers to compensate by doing anything to please him. In response, Rumplestiltskin stretches out his foot and commands Hordor to kiss his boot. Hordor proceeds to do so, but before he can actually kiss his boot, Rumplestiltskin reaches forward and snaps his neck. It turns into a bloodbath as Rumplestiltskin slays Hordor's knights as well, and corpses line the village. ("Desperate Souls")